The 2nd Pioneer Battalion was an Australian infantry and light engineer unit raised for service during the First World War as part of the all volunteer Australian Imperial Force. Formed in Egypt in March 1916, the battalion subsequently served on the Western Front in France and Belgium, after being transferred to the European battlefields shortly after its establishment.

Inscriptions & Markings

A Platoon of the 2nd, Pioneer Battalion Att. to the 1St.Aust. Tunnelling Company at Rance in Belgium 19 Jan 1919

Inscriptions & Markings

Veteran Affairs Newspaper article dated June 1998 - Australian Corps Memorial Park - $1.3 million memorial at La Hamel for Australian World War 1 Soldiers.

Lara RSL Sub Branch, Lara

A4 sheet of white paper has two cut-out sections of Veteran Affairs Newspaper article dated June 1998 glued on. Title Australian Corps Memorial Park. Article covers a Memorial cost $1.3 million dollars for dedication on 4th July 1998 consisting of three curved memorial walls for Australian soldiers that died during Wold War 2. The photograph included in the article was taken on August 8, 1918 which shows B company of the 29th Battalion - a Victorian Unit - being addressed by their platoon Commander. All 5 Australian Divisions took part in the major Allied attack on the German Lines - the first time the five Australian Divisions had fought together as the Australian Corps. (Under Australian Command) It is the First memorial on the Western Front dedicated to the Australian Corps. The park surrounding it includes a 500 meter walking tril with 18 information panels along its length on aspects of the battle.

Historical information

Article of World War 1
Refer to carved life size soldier with machine gun in foyer and photograph at its feet.

Inscriptions & Markings

Article was found in Veteran Affairs News dated June 1998, heading - Australian Corps Memorial Park.

Booklet - Le Havre et Sainte-Adresse

Lara RSL Sub Branch, Lara

Booklet with light cardboard cover bounded by red string

Historical information

Le Havre is an urban French commune and city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northwestern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the river Seine on the Channel southwest of the Pays de Caux. The sixteen photos are from circa 1917.

Significance

Important Booklet as it shows rare photos of an area in France during WW1.

Inscriptions & Markings

Front page is crest with poppies and titled Le Havre et Sainte-Adresse with initials E.L.D (printers initials). Written in pen on the top right corner are the words Mrs J.McIntyre Elcho Lara Lake Aus - Vic.
On the back page is a stamp, Catalogues Industriels E. Le Deley 127, Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris
Inside are photos of of the area around Le Havre, France

Sepia Photograph. - Photograph of Peronne France 2nd Sept.1918.

Lara RSL Sub Branch, Lara

Rectangular shaped Sepia Photograph.

Historical information

Between 31 August and 2 September 1918, Australia's Second Division attacked and captured the German stronghold of Mont St Quentin, the key to the strategic town of Péronne on the Somme River. Tired and under strength, units such as the 21st Battalion skilfully drove the enemy from their well-established positions,

Significance

This photograph shows the aftermath of fighting in Peronne.

Inscriptions & Markings

Peronne France 2 Sept. 1918. The ruined town,seen from across the Somme Canal.Immediately above the centre of town shrapnel may be observed bursting over the old historic church.

Photo Somme Valley

Historical information

Photo taken at Somme Valley in France in August 1918

Significance

Photo take at Somme valley by Australian Troops August 1918

Inscriptions & Markings

View of the Somme Valley in France August 1918 Morcourt on the extreme left Cerisy on the left centre, and Corbir on the extreme right.Hamel may be seen over the oblong sheet of water on the extreme right.
Hamel may be seen over the oblong sheet of water on the right. The country from that point to the left of the view was taken by Australian troops during August 1918.

Belgium: Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Ypres, Menin Road, Hellfire Corner, on the Menin Road in the Ypres sector of Belgium 27/9/1917. It was continually under observation and notorious for its danger The area was piled with wreckage of all kinds of transport. "A very sticky spot."

Inscriptions & Markings

Booklet - Recollections of the War Hospital Keighley and its Auxiliaries 1916-19

Lara RSL Sub Branch, Lara

Carboard and paper booklet of 48 pages. The cover is beige with green border with black and red writing. Silverfish have eaten top right corner of cover.

Historical information

Keighley War Hospital at Morton Banks was originally The Morton Banks Fever Hospital and after local funds were raised, extra wards were built to turn it into a War Hospital. It opened in time to take some of the first casualties from the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 and continued until the end of the war.
The War Hospital Register archived at Keighley Library contains 13,214 names of servicemen who were treated there. It also contains the names of German prisoners of war who were being held locally and required treatment from time to time, notably from the influenza epidemic. Morton Banks had 746 beds.
The book records the details of the hospital between 1916-19 including staff, hospital layout and departments, the Auxiliary Hospitals, Discipline, Recreation, Education, Comforts Committee and Affiliated Associations.

Significance

Document of Military Hospital in Keighley, U.K. during WW1. Contains significant information on staff and different departments at the hospital.

Inscriptions & Markings

On front cover is publisher Wadsworth & Company, Russell Street, Keighley, (also known as Rydal Press) title and cost of Sixpence. Inside first blank page is written 'With kind regards from Willie To Jack'. 'Jack' refers to J.L.McIntyre

Sympathy Cards Mc Intyre

Historical information

Standard sympathy cards sent by family acknowledging the loss of their sons killed during World War One

Significance

Standard sympathy cards sent by parents acknowledging letters of sympathy sent to them on the loss of their sons.

Inscriptions & Markings

Envelope Addressed to Mrs J MC Intyre Elcho Lara Australia, includes a one penny stamp. Two standard printed Cards " Thanking you for your kind Sympathy ........." . One card from Mr. and Mrs. Lodge for the loss of their son Corporal James A lodge ( France March 26 1917) Little River and the other from Mr. and Mrs. J Duggan Lara on the loss of their son Private Horace James Duggan. (France 27th March 1918) For God, King and Country with the Australian and English flag.

Black and White photograph of members of 3 rd Battallion standing on the barrel of a captured German 15 inch naval Gun near Chuignolles, France 24/8/1918.
A company of the 3rd Bn. captured Arch Wood with the bayonet and found the Gun blown off its carriage and the great barrel blown off at the breech.

Historical information

Members of 3 rd Battallion standing on the barrel of a captured German 15 inch naval Gun near Chuignolles, France 24/8/1918

Significance

Inscriptions & Markings

Black and white photograph attached to a A4 sheet of paper below the photograph is a note that describes the scene.
The note states - 'Members of 3 rd Battallion standing on the barrel of a captured German 15 inch naval Gun near Chuignolles, France 24/8/1918.
A company of the 3rd Bn. captured Arch Wood with the bayonet and found the Gun blown off its carriage and the great barrel blown off at the breech."

Photograph. - Photograph of Bapaume.

Lara RSL Sub Branch, Lara

Rectangular shaped Sepia photograph with an added note underneath.

Historical information

Bapaume was a large German-held town almost within sight of the Australians’ trench lines throughout the winter months on the Somme. Suddenly, from 24 February 1917 it became evident that the enemy was retiring. The British advanced after them, and by the morning of 17 March Australian troops reached the outskirts of Bapaume. The soldiers’ heightened spirits were exemplified by the band of the 5th Australian Brigade playing amid the burning ruins as they marched into the old town square on the 19th. However booby traps and time bombs had been left behind; one exploded in the town hall a week later burying men and killing twenty-five.

Significance

On the Western Front, Bapaume was a coveted position between the two strategically-important areas of Artois and Somme. The Germans occupied the town in 1914 and in the final eighteen months of the war it changed hands three times.

Inscriptions & Markings

Bapaume was occupied by Australian troops on the 30th Mar 1917. An Australian mounted patrol moving through the wrecked streets of the town. Note the French helmet on the forward rider.

Historical information

Inscriptions & Markings

Photo - The Battle of Amiens,France,8Aug,1918.

Lara RSL Sub Branch, Lara

Rectangular shaped black and white photograph.

Historical information

The Battle of Amiens, also known as the Third Battle of Picardy (French: 3ème Bataille de Picardie), was the opening phase of the Allied offensive which began on 8 August 1918, later known as the Hundred Days Offensive, that ultimately led to the end of the First World War.

Significance

By the end of August 8—dubbed “the black day of the German army” by Ludendorff—the Allies had penetrated German lines around the Somme with a gap some 15 miles long. Of the 27, 000 German casualties on August 8, an unprecedented proportion—12,000—had surrendered to the enemy. Though the Allies at Amiens failed to continue their impressive success in the days following August 8, the damage had been done.

Inscriptions & Markings

The battle of Amiens,France,8thAug.1918.Lt R Downes MC.addressing his Platoon from B Coy.29 BN.during a rest near the village of Warfusee before the advance on to Harbonnieres.Pte Charles Olive of Lara is 3rd,from the left carrying the Lewis Gun.
Australian War Memorial

from Duck Ponds to Lara - Booklet from Duck Ponds to Lara

Lara RSL Sub Branch, Lara

Soft back booklet a collection of of memories "From Duck Ponds to Lara." Published by the Lara Heritage Festival Inc 2004. Edited by Mary Budd, Caroline Delaney, and John Grainger.
Contributions of short stories to the project have come from local residents. Booklet also came with a fold-up heritage map of Lara printed on both sides.

Historical information

Lara - Duck Ponds history and input by local population.
Insight into the History of a small community.

Significance

Local knowledge of Lara's History, some items are not well known, Excellant referamce.

Inscriptions & Markings

The booklet is tagged for the names of contributors who are members of Lara R. S. L.
Front of the Booklet is half covered by a photograph of Lara Creek and environes.
Booklet also came with a fold-up heritage map of Lara printed on both sides.

Significance

Inscriptions & Markings

On front side, half way down are the words The Burlington Melbourne and below this is an embossed picture of a female upper torso.
On the rear in pen are the words J.L. J.McIntyre (Jack) 45 Walkers Road Lara.